Adjustable tie rod



July 21, 1931.

W. H. SAUVAGE ADJUSTABLE TIE ROD Filed July 26, 1925 gnveyvtoz atto: Wag

Patented July 21, 1931 Unire!) STATES PATENT oFFlcE WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY IIIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROYAL RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- IPORATION OF DELAWARE ADJUSTABLE TIE ROD Application led July 26, 1926. Serial No. 125,076.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable tie rods and more particularly to tie rods for use in connection with the brake rigging of railway vehicles, altho it is, of

course, to be understood that without material modification, it is equally applicable to many other uses where an adjustment of an effective length is desired.

One ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical adjustable tie rod, particularly adapted for use in connection with the brakes of railway brake rigging, which is non-rustable, inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and very reliableand efiicient in use and operation, both for tension and compression members Wherever a tie rod is required.

A further object is to provide a tie rod for the foundation brake rigging on a car and the like, which may be easily and quickly adjusted to vary its effective length `and after adjustment to be locked in its new position.

A further Objectis to provide a durable device of the above character which is substantially dust and dirt proof, and in which the operative parts are unaected by weather, dirt, snow and ice. A

Other objects will be in part obvious from 3o the annexed drawings and in part indicated by the following analysis of the invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of j parts and in the unique relation of the various members andin the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, allas more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the artso fully to comprehend the underlying features in order that they may embody the same by numerous modifications in' structure and relation contemplated by this invention, draw-` ings depicting preferred lforms of the inven- A tion have been annexed as part of this disclosureA illustrating such parts of the truck brake rigging and slackY adjuster in side elevation as is necessary to understand the invention.

In these drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tie rod showing one of the various possible modilications; and

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views showing other modifications.

For convenience of illustratiomthe invention will be hereinafter described with reh.- tion to its application to brake rigging of railroad cars.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figure 1, 5 indicates one end of a live or dead lever, for example, and 6 a corresponding end of the other lever between which is usually positioned and anchored against rotation by its connection therewith, a tie rod or compression member according to the type of brake rigging employed. The tie rod in the present' case contemplates an adjustable member of the turnbuckle type comprising a non-rusting tubular end member 7 having a relatively large threaded barrel portion 8 adapted to co-act with a vmachined telescoping rod 10 correspondingly threaded at one of its ends 11. The free or entrance end of the tubular member 7 is protected by a threaded cap 12 havingadjustable case hardened clamping means 13 closely litting the rod 10 for the purpose of holding the parts in adjusted position, to prevent wear by reason of its hardened surface, and also to keep the tubular member free from dust and dirt, or ice and snow. The opposite end of the rod 10 is provided with a swiveled head 14 housed within a tubular end member 15 connected by fastening means of any desired sort, such as a pivot 16, with the end of the lever 6. On this'rod 1() are two Wrench or tool engaging members such as nuts 17 and 18 keyed or pinned thereto as by pins 20. The member 18 holds the swiveled end 11i in position while the other is for convenience in the application of a wrench for the purpose of turning the rod 10 to its newly adjusted position by causing the threads 11 of the rod 10 to move in or out with respect to the tubular member 7. Plugs 19 are preferably used to exclude foreign matter from the remote ends of castings 7' and 15.

In operation, when it is desired to change the effective length of the connection, the clamping means 13 is slightly released and then by applying a wrench to the member l?, the rod 10 may be easily turned by reason of its swiveled end lat either inwardly or outwardly as circumstances require, after which the clamping means 13 is again tightened and the device is ready for continued use.

In the form shown in Figure 2, the levers 5 and 6 are connected at their lower ends by means of two teleseoping parts, one of which 2l is provided with a tubular internally threaded member 22 terminatingl at its outer or free end in a wrench engaging port-ion 23. A set screw 24 passes through the memb-er 2l and engages an annular or circumferential groove 25 for the purpose of preventing relative longitudinal or turning movement of the members 22 and 23. The other part of the tie rod consists of a solid rod member 26 terminating at one en d in threaded portion 27 engaging the interior threads of the member 22. The opposite end of the rod 26 is connected to a member Q8 pivot-ally supported at and anchored to the lower end of the lever 6. A case hardened bushing 30 is preferably associated with the m-embers 23 and 26 for the purpose of excluding dust and dirt from entering the member 22 and to obviate wear of parts, while the member 2l is provided with a dust and dirt excluding plug 29.

The effective length of this rod may be changed in either of two ways. That is, upon loosening the set screw 24, a wrench may be employed on the portion 23 for the purpose of turning the same with respect to the rod 26, or the rod 26 lmay be disconnected at the point 28 from the lever 6 and the entire rod 25 turned in or out as desired. By reason of the weight of the parts, the latter operation is desirable few instances.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a tubular internally threaded member 31 provided with a case hardened bushing 32 at its open end adapted tosnugly engage a telescoping rod 33 threaded at 34. rl`he other end of this rod is secured as by pin 35 to the supporting end member 36. A wrench engaging element 37 is also lreyed or pinned to the rod 33 whereby on removing a locking pin 35, the effective length may be easily changed on relative rotation of the members 3l and 33. The member 8?' also serves as an abutment to position the rod in proper relation to the end member 36 to permit insertion of the locking pin 35. This type of tie rod is more especially adapted for use as a compression member. Plugs 38 are preferably used for lreeping out foreign matter from the interior of the castings 3l and 36.

It will be thus seen that the present invention contemplates a simple and practical adjustable tie rod particularly applicable to any part of the foundation brake rigging or other mechanisms where the effective length between two normally connected members is subject to frequent change. It is well adapted to accomplish am'ong others all of the objects and advantages herein set forth in a reliable and efficient manner.

`Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly const-itute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention, and, therefore, such adaptations are and should be included within the meaning and range of equivalency of .the following claims.

I claim:

1.` In an adjustable tie rod, in combi-nation, end members normally anchored against rotation, one of the members having an internally threaded tubular portion, a rod ,hate ing one end threaded to engage in the threaded tubular portion and being otherwise `unthreaded throughout its length and having its other end housed -in the other end member, means disposed at the entrance end of said tubular portion operative to snugly engage the unthreaded portion of said rod, whereby to protect the `threads of the tubular portion and the rod from weather, dirt, and the like, a locking pin extending thru one of the end members and rod Vand adapted to lock said parts against relative rotation, and means forrotating the rod `relative to the end members upon removal of the locking pin thereby to change the distance between the end members, said kmeans abutting said end member to which the rod is locked to position the rod longitudinally in locking relation with respect thereto.

2. In an adjustable tie rod, in .combination, end members normally anchored against rotation, one of the members having an internally threaded tubular portion, a rod having one end threaded to engage the threadM ed tubular portion and its other end housed in the other end member, a hardened bush` ing disposed at the end of said tubular por tion to snugly engage the rod, means normally locking the rod against rotation with respect to said end members, a tool engaging means for rotating the rod relative to an end member upon release of the locking means thereby to change the relative .distance between the end members, and means including the hardened bushing to exclude dust or dirt from an end member.

3. In an adjustable tie rod, in combina-- tion, end members normally anchored against rotation, one of the members having an internally threaded tubular portion, a .rod having one end threaded to engage Iin the threaded tubular portion and being otherwise unthreaded throughout its length and hav-ing its other end housed in the other end member, means d isposed at the entrance end of said tubular portion operative to snugly engage the unthreaded portion of the rod and pro'- viding a bearing therefor, a looking pin extending thru one of the end members and rod to look the rod against rotation, a tool engaging member on the rod for rotating the rod relative to the end members upon removal of the looking pin, said tool engaging member abutting the end member to which the rod is looked thereby to position the rod in looking relation with respect thereto, and means inclusive of said lirst named means to exclude dust or dirt from the end members.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE. 

